Our dear father and husband passed away unexpectedly Tuesday morning, September 27, 2016. John Abram Friesen was born to Peter and Mary Friesen in Winkler, Manitoba on June 18, 1952. In 1957, when he was 5 years old, he moved with his family to Portage La Prairie, MB to live with the Hutterites. After many adventures, both good and bad, they left the Hutterites and moved to Neuenberg where they lived for 3 years. In 1960, the family moved to LaCrete, Alberta where they lived until 1965 when they moved to Fort Vermilion, AB. Dad was baptized into the church of God in Christ Mennonite church in 1967, where he remained a faithful member for the rest of his life. In 1970, Laurence and Beth Holdeman moved to Fort Vermilion, from Michigan, with their family. On July 11, 1971, Johnny married their daughter, Joy (our mother). They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this year. Dad was a farmer all of his life. He started driving truck in his 30s, and during the winter months, he hauled logs for many years. He enjoyed visiting with all the people he came in contact with. Our dad was a very friendly, generous person who was known and remembered by everyone he met. His sense of humour and laugh ensured everyone knew when he was in the room. He was a loving grandfather who always kept the grandchildren entertained. When they came over to Grandpa and Granny's, if he wasn't there the first question they asked was "Where's Grandpa?" Those left to remember and miss our Father are his wife, of more than 45 years, Joy Belle (Holdeman) Friesen, his children, Milton & Kathy (Krahn) Friesen (Creston, BC), Wendy & Tom Neudorf (Sundre, AB), Jason & Marialyn (Abiadew) Friesen (Fort Vermilion, AB), Nellie & Jonathon Friebel (Calgary, AB), Justin & Esther (Thiessen) Friesen (Fort Vermilion, AB). He left 11 grandsons, 5 granddaughters, and one granddaughter-in-law, his siblings and their families, Peter & Iris Friesen, Dave & Helen Wiebe, Mary Shaw, Henry & Shirley Friesen, Jake & Iris Friesen, Agnes & Gilbert Isaac, George & Patsy Friesen. Also his mother-in-law, Beth Lucille (Williams)Holdeman (Bonners Ferry, ID), his wife's siblings and their families, Bill Dirks(Bonners Ferry, ID), Faith & Leonard Isaac(Kleefeld, MB) John & Liz Holdeman, John & Liz Holdeman, Dan & Gloria Holdeman, David & LeAnne Holdeman, all of Bonners Ferry, ID, Rebecca & John Condon (Portland, OR), Nathan Holdeman (Barron, WI), Rachel Holdeman, Priscilla Holdeman, both of Bonners Ferry,ID. He was preceded in death by his parents Peter & Mary Friesen, father-in-law Laurence Holdeman, 2 sisters, 2 sister-in-laws, 1 brother-in-law, and 2 nephews. Funeral Service 10:30 am Saturday, October 1, 2016 Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Hilltop Congregation 4101 50 St Fort Vermillion, Alberta, Canada T0H 1N0